This year marks the 20th year since the disappearance of Gedun Choekyi Nyima.
After decades of silence from the Chinese Government about his abduction, on September 6, a leading Chinese Official, Norbu Dundup, commented at a news conference that Gedun Choekyi Nyima is growing up healthily, receiving education and does not wish to be disturbed. Norbu Dundup is a member of the Tibet Autonomous Region’s United Front Work Department and also serves as the liaison officer to Tibetans.
At the age of six, Gedun Choekyi Nyima who was born in Tibet was recognised as the reincarnation of Panchen Lama by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Since his abduction then, he has been missing and his fate remains a deep concern for Tibetans across the world.
Norbu Dundup said “The identification was done without authorisation. It was illegal and invalid,” referring to the Dalai Lama’s recognition of Gedun Choekyi Nyima. He further defended the role the Chinese government is assuming in the Tibetan Buddhist system of reincarnation by saying, “no matter what the Dalai Lama says or does, he can’t deny the central government’s right to confirm the new reincarnation.”
Norbu accused the Dalai Lama of violating historical conventions and religious rituals by choosing the Panchen Lama.
China’s remark on the wellbeing of the Panchen Lama and his selection by the Dalai Lama at this particular time of global concern over His Holiness’s succession is thought by Tibetans to show that the Chinese wish to reaffirm their claim of a legitimate role in the Buddhist tradition of reincarnation.
Gedun Choekyi Nyima was recognised by Dalai Lama in 1995 as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama. The Chinese government came up with another boy, Gyaltsen Norbu, who they declared to be the Panchen Lama. Tibetans consider him to be a mere figurehead installed by the Chinese.
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